Car-truck frame.



No. 655,386. Paen'ted Aug. 7, |900.

E. S. WOODS.

CAR TRUCK FRAME.

(Appucarion'md Feb. 15, 1900,)

(N0 Model.)

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No. 655,386. Patented Aug. 7, |900. l

E. S. WOODS.

CAR TRUCK FRAME.

Applicata mea ren. 15, 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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{KM/.ff -f J Ely? Zum/'Z @Www W '11,' aYW/egmj EDWIN S. N VCODS, CF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CAR-TRUCK FRAME.

SPECIFICATION forming' 'part of Letters Patent No. 655,386, dated August 7, 1900.

y Application tiled February l5, IQO. Serial No. 5,313. (No model.) f

T0 all zoll/0711, t may concern:

Beit known that I, EDWIN S. XVoODs,of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Truck Frames; and I do hereby declare that the followingisafull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in car-truck frames; and the invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan view, partly broken away, of a truck-frame embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an outside end view thereof. Fig. Sis an inside elevation of one of the side members of the truck. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken through one side of the side members and showing the adjacent ends of the cross-tiebars. Fig. (i is a vertical section taken through the pedestal. Fig. 7 is a detail of a modified form of cross-tie bar.

As shown in said drawings, A A designate the two side members of the truck-frame arranged parallel with each other, and B a truck-bolster which extends between and is supported at its opposite ends in said side members centrally between the ends thereof. Said bolster is detachably connected to the side members and may be readily detached therefrom. Said side members are connected at theirlower parts centrally thereof by means of transverse tie-bars C C, which are attached at their opposite ends to the side members. Said side bars are preferably arranged diagonally and cross each other at their middle parts and are constructed to be readily detached from the side members. Said side members are made of a plurality of suitablyshaped bars and plates riveted or otherwise suitably fastened together, being in this respect similar to the construction shown in application for United States patent, Serial No. 702,942, tiled January 2l, 1899.

A designates the compression member or arch-bar, which extends from one end of each side member tothe other and is substantially horizontal at its middle and bent downwardly at its opposite ends to form parts of the pedestal members, which are designated as a whole by the letter D. Said compression member consists of an angle-bar, the flange u, of which is uppermost and directed outwardly and the web a of which is vertical.

A2designates a tension member, the central part of which is horizontal and located below the central part of the compression member. The parts of said tension members on each side of the central horizontal portion thereof rise obliquely upwardly to the level of the upper parts of the pedestals D and are at their outer ends bent downwardly to form, with the-ends of Vthe compression member, parts `of said pedestals. Said tension member is made of an angle-bar having its web portion a2 vertical and its fiange as horizontal and directed inwardly.

E designates a tie-bar on the out-side of each side member of the frame at the lower side thereof and extending between the pedestals. Said bar is an angle-bar with its web e arranged vertically and its dan ge e directed outwardly. The bar is attached at its mid- .dle portion to the horizontal portions of the tension member by rivets or the like passing through the webs thereof. The ianges of the tension member and the tie-bar in their horizontal parts are directed oppositely in the same horizotal plane. The end portions of saidtie-bar E are directed obliquely outwardly' and upwardly, but at a less inclination than the tension member.

F F designate vertical web-plates inside of the pedest-als, attached at their upper ends to the inner sides of the compression members and at their lower ends to theinner sides of the tie-bars E. G G designate other vertical plates attached to the outer faces of the plates F and abut at their upper ends against the compression members and attached at their lower ends to the tie-bars between the plates F and said bars. Rivets or the like pass through said plates F and G and the webs of the tension members to attach said parts rigidly together. The interior parts of the pedestals consist of two anglebars D D of inverted-U form, attached by their webs CZ at the outer sides and upper ends of the pedestals to the webs of the com- IOO pressioni and tension members and vat the inner'sides of the pedestals to the outer margins of the plates G, which project beyond the plates F. Thelaterally-directed flanges d of the pedestal-bars D are directed outwardly and in opposite directions and are located in like planes.

H I'I designate facing bars of U shape, which cover the oppositely-directed ilanges of the pedestal-bars. Said bars have the form of channel-bars, the flanges of which pass outside of and overlap the margins of the anges of the pedestal-bars. The web portions of said channel-'bars form smooth and continuous bearing-surfaces for journalboxes adapt-ed to be contained therein. The lower ends of said pedestals are closed by transverse bars D2 D2, which are detachably secured to the opposite ends of the pedestals by means of bolts, as shown.

A top plate I is attached to and covers each of the side members. Said top plates are riveted between their ends to the anges of the compression members and are riveted at their ends to the dan-ges of both the compression and tension members at the upper part of the pedestals and serve as a means to hold said ends of the compression and tension members rigidly together.

Next referring to the parts constituting the principal feature of my invention, J designates a box, preferably cast, which is supported between the middle part of the tension and compression members of each of the side frames and rests at its lower part upon t-he horizontal oppositely-directed anges of the tension member and tie-bar. Said box supports the opposite ends of the truck-bolster B and receives the springs K, which are interposed between the side frames and the truck-bolster. Said box is made of a single casting and consists of a bottom plate J", two vertical side plates J 2 J2, and a top plate J3. The box is attached to the tension member and tiebar by means of rivets]` or the like, which pass through the bottom plate of the box and through the flanges ofv said tension member and tie-bar. The top plate of said box has the form in cross-section of an anglebar and ts on the inner side of the compression members with the flange horizontal and in the same plane and extending oppositely from the flange of the compression member and is attached thereto by means of rivetsj' or the like passing through said web and through the upper plate of the box. Said upper plate of the box is extended beyond the side plates of the box and constitutes arms J4, which engage the inner face of said compression member and are attached thereto by rivets J2 or like means. The plate I is fixed to the top plate of the box and flange of the compression member by rivets or the like passing therethrough and through the plate. The bottom plate of said box is formed on its upper surface to provide seats js for the springs K, which rest thereon and which springs support the opposite ends of the truck-bolster.

proper relation to the side members of the truck-frame interlocking connections are provided between said bolster and the box J. Said interlocking connections areso constructed as to permit the removal of the bolster without the removal of any of the plates'or bars forming the truck-frame proper. This is accomplished in the present instance by providing the side plates J2 of the box J on their inner surfaces with vertically-arranged holding-lugs J 5 and providing the sides of the truck-bolster at places opposite thereto with corresponding vertical grooves, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, in which said lugs rest when the bolster is in position in the side frame members. In order to permit the truckbolster to be removed from the box J, the said holding-lugs are terminated above the bottom plate of the box a distance slightly greater than the vertical width of the bolster. Furthermore, the said truck-bolster is made of such vertical width with respect to the length of the box that when the springs are in place and the bolster is resting thereon said bolster is out of contact with the upper plate of the box, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. With this construction and arrangement when it is desired to remove the said truck-bolster it is lifted off of the springs (which is permitted by reason of the space between the bolster and the upper plate of the box) and the springs are removed from the box. Said truck-bolster is then free to drop down upon the bottom plate of the box, at which time it is free from the holding-lugs J5, so that said bolster may be moved endwise from the box.

The side plates of the box are strengthened by rearwardly and forwardly extending deep ribs ,7434. The lateral sides of said side plates are hollowed to give lightness thereto consistent with strength, and said hollowing of the plates gives to said plates the form of laterally-separated vertical ribs j5. The said vertical ribs j f may be connected by short transverse ribs js to give strength thereto. A. rib j? is provided between the angles of the vertical and horizontal parts forming the upper wall of the spring-box for the purpose of giving additional strength thereto.

' The spring-box J is of such width as to cover the angles formed between the horizontal and oblique portions of the tension member. This construction possesses considerable practical advantage over constructions heretofore employed, wherein the weight carried by the transom member or truck-bolster is brought upon the horizontal parts of the tension members inside of said angles. In the last-mentioned construction the downward strain com- IOO IIO

ing upon the horizontal parts ofthe tension' members ten ds to straighten the tension members between the horizon tal and obli que parts thereof, which would distort the parts forming the truck-fram e, and thereby transmit the weight disproportionately to the different parts of the frame. With my construction, on the other hand, the downward strain transmitted by the bolster is brought upon the parts of the tension members at the bases of the oblique parts of said tension members, and there is no tendency to straighten the angles of said tension members between the horizontal and oblique parts; but said strain is brought' upon the tension members in a manner to enable the same to withstand the greatest strain or load. In this connection the form of the bars E herein shown is of con` siderable importance. The oblique ends of said tie-bars enables said bars to take a greater portion of the downward strain brought upon the frame without liability of distortion than would be true if said tie-bars were made horizontal in all their parts. The said tie-bars therefore lessen the strain brought upon the tension members and distributes the same between the said tension members and tie-bars more equally than if said tie-bars were horizontal.

As a means of fastening the ends of the diagonal tie-bars C C they are herein shown as bent downwardly at their extreme ends to form toes c, which are adapted to enter sockets formed in the upper surface of the lower plates of the spring-box J. Bolts c' or rivets pass through said tie-bars between said toes and the center of the truck and through the lower plate of the spring-box and the iiange of the tension members. Said bolts serve to prevent said bars from rising, while the said toes c prevent lateral movement of the side frame with respect to said bars. Said sockets are made of such size so that the toes iit tightly therein, so that there is no tendency for the toes to straighten out when lateral pressure is brought on the side members of the truck-frame, tending to separate the side members thereof. The springs K rest upon the ends of said diagonal tie-bars and aid to hold said tie-bars from rising. One of the principal advantages of this construction is 'the ease with which the tie-bars may be removed in case it is desired by reason of accidentorothercausetoreplacethesame. Then such replacement is to be effected, it is only necessary to remove the springs in the manner above set forth, when said bars ma7 be easily released by removing the bolt c'. The bars instead of being arranged diagonally and crossing each other at their centers may be arranged parallel, if so desired.

Instead of using spiral sprin gs, as here shown, elliptical springs may be employed. Other changes in the details may obviously be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not wish to be limited to such details except as made the subject of specific claims.

In Fig. 7 l have shown a modified form of the bar, consisting of a cliannel-barM,\vhich extends transversely between the side members at right angles thereto or approximately so. The flanges m m of said bar at the ends thereof are cut away and the web m eX- tends beyond said flanges to afford means for attaching the tie-bar to the side members. Said web iits into a recess in the bottom plate of the box J and is flush at its upper surface with the upper surface of the box. The bar is held in place by bolts m2 or the like passing through the extended parts of the web and through the bottom plates of the box and tension members, as shown.

By reason of the construction of the springboxes J as shown and above described and the relation thereto of the parts forming the side members of the truck-frame the said spring-boxes maybe readily removed from the side members by :removing the rivets or bolts which attach the same to the said side members. rlhis may become necessary by reason of breakage of the boxes or the discovery of a flaw therein after the same have been inserted into the side members of the frame.

I cla-im as my invention-- 1. A truck-frame comprising two parallel side frames, a transverse truck bolster formed to detachably interlock with each of said side frames, and removable springs interposed between said bolster and said side frames and designed to hold said bolster interlocked with said side frames.

2. A truck-frame comprising two parallel side frames, a transverse truck bolster, springs interposed between said frames and the ends of the truck-bolster and detachable interlocking connections between said truckbolster and each of the side frames, said interlocking connections being located above the springs, whereby when the springs are removed the bolster may drop out of engagement from said connections.

8. A truck-frame comprising two parallel side frames, a transverse truck-bolster supported at its ends in said frames, springs interposed between said bolster and said frames, interlocking connections between said bolster and each of said frames which are located above the springs, said bolster when resting on the springs having a limited upward movement, whereby it may be raised to permit the springs to be removed from the frames.

4. A truck-frame comprising two parallel side frames, a` transverse vtruck bolster, which has detachable interlocking engagement at its ends with said side frames, acting to prevent lateral spreading of the side frames, springs interposed between the ends of said bolster and side frames, and tie-bars extending transversely between and connecting the lower sides of said side frames.

ICO

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5. A truck-frame comprising two parallely side frames, a spring-box located in each of said frames provided with vertical walls, a transverse truck-bolster extending between said frames and supported between said vertical walls of the boxes, springs interposed between said holsters and the lower parts of the spring-boxes, and holding-lugs on the vertical walls of the spring-boxes which terminate above the bottoms of the boxes, the ends of the bolster being provided with notches or grooves which are engaged by said lugs.

6. A car-truck frame comprising two side frames, an integral cast-metal spring-box located in each of said frames between the tension and compression members thereof and provided with iianges which overlap said members and are attached thereto, springs in said boxes, a bolster extending between said side frames and supported at its ends on said springs, and holding-lugs on the side walls of said boxes above said springs designed for interlocking engagement with the adjacent sides of the truck-bolster.

7. A car-truck frame comprising two side frames, a spring-box located in each of said frames between and attached to the tension and compression members thereof, springs in said boxes, a bolster extending between said side frames and supported at its ends on said springs, holding-lugs on the side walls of said boxes designed for interlocking engagement with the adjacent sides of the truckbolster, said truck-bolster having a limited vertical movement when it is supported on said springs, whereby it may be raised to permit the springs to be removed therefrom, and the holding-lugs being located above the bottom of said spring-box a distance greater than the width of said bolster.

S. A truck-frame comprising two parallel side frames, a transverse truck-bolster supported at its ends in said frames and adapted to have a limited upward movement beyond its normal position, and springs interposed vbetween said bolster and said frames and designed to be removed by the raising of said bolster above its normal position.

9. A truck-frame comprising two parallel side frames, a transverse truck-bolster formed to interlock with said side frames, removable springs interposed between said side frames and bolster and designed to hold the bolster inter-locked with said side frames, and a tiebar extending between and rigidly connecting the lower sides of said side frames, the ends of said tie-bar being located below the springs and free to be detached from the side frames when the springs are removed.

l0.. A car-truck frame comprising two parallel side frames, and a bolster extending between and having detachable interlocking engagements therewith, springs interposed between said bolsters and the frames, a tiebar extending between and rigidly connecting the lower sides of said side frames, said tie-bar being bent downwardly at its outer end to form toes which engage sockets in the side frames, and being located below said springs whereby they may be detached from the side frames when the springs are removed.

11. A truck-frame comprising two parallel side frames, provided at their opposite ends with pedestals, and each embracing a lower tension member provided with a horizontal flange, and an upper compression member, tie-bars extending between the pedestals and attached at their middle parts .to the said tension members, said tie-bars being provided with horizontal flanges which at the central parts thereof are in the same planes as the flanges of the tension members, spring-boxes which are supported on the flanges of the tension members and tie-bars and attached at their lower parts to said flanges and at its upper parts to the compression members, springs in said boxes and a truck-bolster extending between and supported on said springs. y

12. A truckefram'e, comprising two parallel side frames each embracing a lower tension member and upper compression member, the

latterhaving a horizontal flange, spring-boxes each comprising a bottom plate, two vertical side plates and a horizontal t-op plate sup ported centrally of the frames between the compression and tension members, the upper plates of said spring-boxes being attached to the vertical parts of said compression members and provided with flanges located in the same planes with, and directly opposite from, the dan ges of the compression members,plates overlying and attached to the fianges of the compression members and ianges of the `upperplates of the spring-boxes, springs in said boxes, and a truck-bolster supported upon said springs.

13. A truck-frame comprising two parallel side frames each embracing a lower tension member and an upper compression member, said tension and compression members being made of an-gle-bars the webs of which are vertical and the flanges horizontal, tie-bars extending between the pedestals and attached at the middle parts thereof to the webs of the tension members, horizontal flanges on said tie-bars which extend outwardly at the central parts thereof and in the same planes with the flange of the tension members, springboxes comprising each a bottom plate, two side plates and a top plate which rest on the horizontal iianges of said tension members, and tie-bars, the upper plates of which are attached to the webs of said compression members, fianges on the upper plates of said boxes which are horizontal and in the same planes with the flanges of the compression members, plates overlying and secured to the anges of the compression members and spring-boxes, springs in said boxes and a truck-bolster extending between said side frames and supported on said springs.

14. A truck-frame comprising two parallel side frames and a transverse bolster extend- IIO ing between and supported in said frames, said side frames each embracing a compression member and a tension member, which are brought together at their outer ends in parallel relation to form parts of the pedestals, and tie-bars extending between said pedestals, said tie-bars being attached at their central parts to the central parts of the tension members and having their ends directed obliquely upwardly toward the pedestals.

15. A cartruck frame comprising two parallel side frames, and a transverse bolster eX- tending between and supported in said frame,4

said side frames each embracing an upper compression member and lower tension member which are arranged parallel at their outer ends and bent downwardly to form parts of the pedestals, the inner parts of said pedestals each embracing two continuous anglebars of L shape in cross-section which are bent in an inverted-U form and arranged side by side and attached to the bent ends of said compression and tension members and a channel-bar of U form attached to the flanges of the pedestal member with the flanges overlapping the margins of said flanges of the L- shaped bars.

16. A truck-frame comprising two parallel side frames and a transverse bolster, the side frames each embracing a tension member which is horizontal atits middle part and extends obliquely upwardly toward the pedestals, spring-boxes supported on the tension members, and springs in said boxes upon which the bolster is supported, said boxes ex- CII tending across the horizontal parts of the tension members and in contact with the oblique parts thereof.

17. A truck-frame comprising two parallel side frames and a transverse bolster, the side frames each embracing a tension member which is horizontal at its middle part and eX- tends obliquely upwardly toward the pedestals, spring-boxes supported on the tension members, and springs in said boxes upon which the bolster is supported, said boxes extending across the horizontal parts of the tension members and in contact with the oblique parts thereof, and the bolster being detachably interlocked with the spring-boxes by means permitting detachment of the bolster from the side frames.

18. A truck-frame comprising two parallel side frames, and a transverse bolster, said side frames each embracing a tension member which is horizontal at its middle part and extends obliquely upwardly toward the pedestals, and supports in the frames for the bolster which eXtend across the horizontal parts of the tension members and in contact with the oblique parts thereof.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses, this 8th day of January, A. D. 1900.

EDVIN S. WOODS.

Vitnesses:

C. W. HILLS, WILLIAM L. HALL. 

